Following a meeting of service chiefs a month earlier, Secretary of Defense James V. Forrestal issues a memo that will come to be known as the “Key West Agreement” that defines the role and responsibilities of the services. The memo assigns the primary responsibility for air defense of the United States to the Air Force.
When Airmen eject, the mission is clear: America leaves no warrior behind. Airmen are trained to survive, evade, resist, and escape the enemy, and everyone from ground crew to rescue personnel and commanders are committed to doing everything necessary—and possible—to bring downed Airmen home.